Agenda and minutes

The minutes for the meeting were agreed by the Committee for publication.

The Llywydd reminded Business Managers that the Aberfan commemoration would take place on Wednesday when Dawn Bowden would be called, followed by each party leader and finishing with a minute’s silence.

The debate on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee’s report on the Wales Bill was moved to be the last item before voting time.

On Tuesday, Voting Time would be after the final item of business. On Wednesday, Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place before the Short Debate.

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

Business Committee determined the organisation of Assembly business and agreed to re-schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 9 November 2016 –

• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (120 60 mins)

• Business Committee determined the organisation of Assembly business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 2 November 2016 –

• 90 Second Statements (5 mins)

Wednesday 9 November 2016 –

• 90 Second Statements (5 mins)
• Debate by Individual Members under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins)

Wednesday 16 November 2016 –

• 90 Second Statements (5 mins)
• Motion to approve the Assembly Commission's Budget 2017-18 (30 mins)
• Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)
• Time allocated to the United Kingdom Independence Party (60 mins)

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Children and Social Work Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the LCM to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the LCM by Thursday 24 November 2016 to allow the Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 29 November 2016.

Following consultation with Party Groups, Business Managers considered a paper setting out proposals for changing the current procedure for introducing Member Bills with possible subsequent changes to Standing Orders.

Business Managers agreed that Standing Orders should be amended to accommodate a revised Member Bill process. Those changes would include keeping the current process of providing pre-ballot information but providing less information overall (including the need for consultation), and increasing the time a Member has to introduce a Bill from 9 to 13 months. The Committee also agreed to look at the possibility of requiring some information on costs and savings at the leave to proceed stage.

The Committee requested a further paper on proposed Orders under Section 116C and for further information on the format of debates on No Named Day motions noting a proposal for legislation.

Business Managers noted revisions to comparative data with other UK legislatures relating to questions, and agreed to return to the matter in mid November.

Business Managers discussed a paper on the effect of Dafydd Elis-Thomas’ leaving the Plaid Cymru group to sit as an Independent Member, and agreed that Plaid Cymru should nominate a Member to fill the vacancies on CLA and SOC. Business Managers agreed to return to the matter of offering Dafydd Elis-Thomas a committee place, and the impact on committee membership more generally, at next week’s meeting.

The Committee also agreed to keep to the current allocation of opposition time on a 2:2:1 ratio for Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and UKIP group and that Leaders’ and Spokespeople’s rotation stay the same.

Business Managers discussed an amended seating plan for the Siambr. The Llywydd asked Business Managers to inform the Secretariat of any changes to their groups’ seating arrangements before today’s Plenary. The Llywydd also notified Business Managers that given the equal sizes of the Plaid Cymru and Conservative groups, neither would be referred to as ‘the opposition’. The Llywydd would alternate who was called first on government statements.